Some Pictures

Here are some pictures to give you a better idea of where we will be working. I got most of these from the Health Talents website!

This is a map of Guatemala. We will be spending most of our time in Chichicastenango and about 2 weeks on the Pacific coast.

I'm pretty sure this is the view from where we will be outside of Chichi. We'll have some nice thick blood after 6 weeks up here.

This is the clinic up in the mountains.

This looks like dental sugery - which I won't be seeing - but it gives you a nice idea of the doctor/assistant/patient layout.

Here are some moms and kids in the waiting room. I particularly like their glove balloons!

Some people outside of the church/clinic.

I don't know that I will meet these actual children, but I thought they were cute.

Clinic Ezell. This is located on the coast and is set up more like a hospital.

Here are some of the beds.

And some patients.

I hope these were helpful. I know I enjoy looking at them and getting excited about where I will be working. I definitely plan on adding pictures of my own once I am down there. Then I can put some names with some faces for you!

Planning for Guatemala!

I would like to officially start this website by saying, I have never blogged before. There you have it. If this is horrible, that is why.

I decided to create this site so that I could keep people updated on my up and coming trip to Guatemala. I am planning on going to Chichicastenango, Guatemala for 6 weeks starting in February. I am currently a second year student in Harding's Physician Assistant Program and as a part of my clinical rotations I opted to head down south so that I could get a first hand look at what it would be like to be a medical missionary. My wonderful friend and classmate Mary Madill will also be going.

Like most people in this world, I was pretty much born knowing exactly what I wanted to do when I grew up.... Ok, so maybe not...but through a variety of twists and turns on my road of life God has led me to where I am now. I have a desire in my heart to help people. Hands on help, like the kind found in the medical world, appeals to me most. When I think about Jesus, and how I want to imitate His life, I think of the ways that He reached people physically...by being the one to touch the leper, hold the children, heal the sick. As a Physician Assistant I will be able to do these things daily, (maybe not lepers...but chicken pox!) and I am so excited!

This trip to Guatemala will be an amazing opportunity for me to be able to practice - not only medicine, but loving people. I have never been to Central America before, but here are some facts about my trip that have been told to me:

• Mary and I will be staying with Mayan families and sleeping on a concrete floor. (I plan on bringing some padding, don't worry)
• Every morning will start off with a brisk 30 minute walk down the mountain where we will meet up with the Doctors by 7:30.
• The Guatemalans boil everything before they drink it. This means that most drinks are served warm. Water...Orange Juice...etc...
• For 2 of the 6 weeks we will get to work with visiting medical missions teams and help out with Eye, OB/GYN, and Plastic surgeries.
• For the other 4 weeks we will work in the mountains seeing patients.
• The toilets are outside. (i.e. a hole in the ground)
• For one week, a team from Harding is coming down for a Spring Break Campaign. I am already bribing them to bring me Dr. Pepper.

I plan on posting more facts as I learn them. This is going to be a wonderful and interesting ride!

Both Mary and I have to raise $2000 each in order to go on this trip. This money covers plane tickets, expenses for our host families, occasional hotel stays during travel, insurance and other miscellaneous expenses. (NOT spending money or tuition!!!) If you are able and would like to contribute, please please please contact me and I will give you details on how to do so. If you are not able (or maybe just don't want to ) contribute, please do not feel like you can never come visit this site again. Believe me, you have an empathetic audience right here - hey, I'm a full time student living on loans. I understand. EVERYONE can pray though, and I'd like to ask you all to do that.

Until next time.....goodnight, and good luck.